Association of household food insecurity and childhood weight status in a low ‐income population

SummaryOne in seven US households with children are food insecure. The health effects of household food insecurity (HFI) are well documented, but its association with childhood weight status remains unclear. We aimed to assess this association and to describe correlates of HFI in children. We conducted a cross ‐sectional study of 3019 low‐income children aged 2 to 17 years. Data were extracted via chart review. HFI was assessed using the hunger vital sign screener. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from documented clinical measurements. We used adjusted linear and logistic regression to assess th e association of HFI with BMI z‐score (BMIz) and weight status. We used logistic regression to examine correlates of HFI including age, race/ethnicity, tobacco exposure, number of parents and siblings living at home, weight status, and census‐tract poverty rate and food access. Of participants w hose HFI status was documented, 91% were food secure and 9% were food insecure. The mean (SD) BMIz was 0.81 (1.11). Fifty five percentage of children were healthy weight, 18% overweight, and 26% obese. In adjusted analyses, HFI was not associated with BMIz but was associated with decreased odds of o besity (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.36‐0.87). Tobacco exposure (1.63; 1.10‐2.44), additional siblings (1.16; 1.04‐1.30), and residence census tract with high poverty rate (1.02; 1.01‐1.03) were all associated with HFI. We concluded that food‐insecure children were less likely to have ...
Source: Clinical Obesity - Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Authors: Tags: Original Research Article Source Type: research